August 24, 2017

Skincare Secrets Under $20

It should come as no surprise to anyone reading my blog that I love makeup. But while I love makeup and have grown to invest in products that I love and swear by, it definitely does some damage to your skin. I've always had a complicated history with my skin and I'm definitely not one of those people who are naturally #blessed with perfect skin, no pimples or amazing texture. In fact, I work twice as hard to get my skin to look clear, beautiful and healthy. I have used everything under the sun for my acne problems, but I realized that no matter how many regimes I've used, skin health really starts with ensuring you're getting your skin clean - especially after wearing makeup. Yes, we take off our makeup - but are we really taking it all off?

I'm a firm believer in #ballinonabudget and skincare is no different for me! Back when I was in college, I really couldn't justify spending $100+ on high-end skincare products, and there was always a new product out that claimed to be life-changing and I just couldn't keep up. So I stopped trying to, and I turned to drugstore brands and tried just about everything until I found something that made my skin feel amazing regularly.

In fact, my go-to for skincare is less about using cult products, and more about listening to my skin and making sure I'm focusing on what it needs. And luckily for me, my skin only needs about $20 worth of product, all of which I've picked up from Walmart - and chances are, yours does too!

// Simple® Cleansing Wipes: This is the first step in my makeup removal process. I've tried just about every makeup remover for my super-sensitive skin, and nothing took my makeup off quite as well as these! They're gentle on my skin and even more important, they're incredible gentle on my eyes, so they manage to take my ultra-waterproof mascara off without me having to scrub them. Which means cleaner faces, less wrinkles from less scrubbing and happier skin, thanks to Simple's commitment to not using any artificial perfumes or colors or harsh chemicals. Win, win, win.. am I right?

// Noxzema® Classic Clean: I've tried just about every everyday face wash under the sun, and this is hands down one of my favorites! It's dermatologist tested and proven to deep clean your skin without totally drying it out. It's one of the few cleansers that doesn't leave my skin feeling tight after washing (you know the feeling..) and instead feels super soft and smooth! Plus, it removes dirt, oil and makeup, so it's definitely an important step before I go to bed to make sure my face is 1000% clean.

// St. Ives® Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub: Chances are by now you've heard about this scrub, and for good reason: it's AMAZING! I don't use it every day, usually 3 to 4 times a week when I feel like my skin needs a deeper cleaning and some exfoliating, and it seriously works! It really gets deep into my skin and leaves my face looking super healthy and GLOWING! It's honestly a must-have in EVERY home because it works for just about every type of skin - and at that price point, you really can't go wrong!

// Pond's® Dry Skin Cream: This definitely isn't a super popular opinion, but I love to moisturize my skin before I go to bed. I always moisturize in the mornings too, but after I clean my skin out at night, I put a small amount (I say small because a little goes a super long way here!) of this cream and head to bed. I started doing this like 10 years too late, only last year when I graduated college and my skin did some super weird freakout and I broke out 10 times worse than usual. After a visit to a dermatologist, she explained that my skin may be over-producing oil because I'm not moisturizing enough, causing my breakouts to get even worse. I added this step into my regime and it's been a game-changer. Plus, I wake up with super soft and hydrated skin.

And plus, like I said, I got all of these at Walmart for $20, which is less than I spend on just about anything, and these last so long, so you're definitely getting your bang for your buck. Let's put it this way: I haven't ran out of product yet and I've been using these things for months!

So, I've let it all out. All of my skincare secrets, and I'm so happy to share. My skin has never felt as amazing and as healthy, and I find my skin looking more glowing (and not in that shiny way either!). And while I still get a breakout or two, my skin bounces back faster than ever.